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Pilot Program Offers Logan Passengers Free Silver Line Ride from Logan Airport to South StationMassport, MassDOT and the MBTA Team Up to Increase Public Transit Use

BOSTON (Tuesday, June 5, 2012) -- Three of the Commonwealth’s transportation agencies are teaming up to raise customer awareness of public transit options to and from Logan Airport. Massport, MassDOT, and the MBTA today announced a three-month “On Us” pilot program that will let Logan passengers board for free inbound Silver Line bus service to South Station. The pilot begins on June 6 and runs through September 3, 2012. Massport is offering the service in an effort to improve high occupancy vehicle (HOV) usage and improve terminal curbside traffic flow.

“Thanks to the Patrick-Murray Administration’s historic Transportation Reform, MassDOT, Massport and the MBTA are working together to test an ambitious plan to reduce the growing number of passenger vehicles on-airport, and encourage the use of public transportation and other HOV alternatives,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey, who chairs the Massport Board. “This is the kind of innovative service we can provide our customers when our agencies work together.”

The Silver Line, which started service in 2006, is a keystone in Massport’s efforts to promote HOV ridership to and from the airport to reduce congestion at the terminal curbs and on airport roadways, as well as reduce vehicle emissions. Massport purchased eight clean-fuel Silver Line buses in 2005.

“As Logan passenger numbers grow, our footprint, roadways and terminal curbs cannot grow with them so increasing HOV usage – Logan already is a national leader in HOV usage – is critical to the airport functioning as we head north of the 30 million passenger number,” said David S. Mackey, Massport’s Interim CEO & Executive Director. “Logan has tried various ways to curb parking demand and wean passengers from driving to the airport. We increased central garage parking prices earlier this year and lowered them on Logan Express parking. There are about 16,000 lined parking spaces in airport garages, and we operate under a regulatory cap that limits commercial parking at the airport to about 17,500 vehicles. Logan cannot build new garages to meet demand.”

The “On Us” pilot is the latest effort to attract Logan customers to public transit. Earlier this year the MBTA began offering real-time arrival information of the Silver Line to South Station from each terminal and improved signage within Terminal C directing passengers to the “T.” Enhanced signage will be rolled out in the remaining terminals this year. An advertising campaign is also currently underway to promote the use of the Silver Line and Blue Line to and from the airport.

“The Silver Line serves as a direct link connecting thousands of Logan travelers each week to the busy, multi-modal South Station transportation hub, said Jonathan Davis, MBTA’s Acting General Manager. “This pilot will eliminate queuing delays, and allow riders to board the bus more efficiently using all doors, help meet Massport’s HOV mode share goals, and to encourage more riders to switch to using mass transit.”

Boston Logan, 15 minutes from the intersection of Route 128 and I-90 and five minutes from downtown Boston, serves as the gateway to the New England region and offers nonstop service to 72 domestic and 31 international destinations and in 2011 handled 28.9 million passengers. Boston Logan is the Air Line Pilot Association’s Airport of the Year for 2008 because of its commitment to safety. Over the past decade, the airport spent $4.5 billion on a modernization program that includes new terminals, public transportation access, parking facilities, roadways and airport concessions, and has been transformed into a world-class 21st Century facility. The airport generates $7 billion in total economic impact each year.

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### The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) owns and operates Boston Logan International Airport, public terminals in the Port of Boston, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $8 billion annually, and enhance and enable economic growth and vitality in New England. No state tax dollars are used to fund operations or capital improvements at Massport facilities.